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Mesothelioma Symptoms and Treatment When mesothelioma first becomes apparent doctors request imaging scans to look for any cancerous growths on the abdomen or chest Mesothelioma can be a sign of other illnesses like pneumonia or lung cancer that can lead to misdiagnosis A biopsy will be performed by the doctor to diagnose mesothelioma There are three mesothelioma cells epithelial sarcomatoid and biphasic Each type responds to treatment differently and has a distinct impact on life expectancy Diagnosis Doctors will run several tests if mesothelioma was suspected These include a chest Xray CT scans and biopsies The Xray can show a buildup of fluid on one side of the chest This is referred to as the pleural effusion and is usually the first manifestation of mesothelioma Xrays arent the most reliable method of diagnosis The next step is a chest CT scan which provides an image of your lungs and other organs A doctor will inject you with dye to highlight any areas that could be cancerous During the CT scan you will be guided through a doughnut scanner while lying on a bed The procedure will take only about a minute and isnt terribly uncomfortable even for those who feel claustrophobic In certain instances the doctor may perform an MRI test The scans produce highquality images using radio waves and strong magnetic fields An MRI can be used to determine if there is mesothelioma of the diaphragm and to determine its stage Some patients will also undergo an PET scan You will receive a radioactive substance during this test Cancer cells absorb the dye more than healthy cells which means they will show up more prominently on the images A biopsy is the last test to confirm mesothelioma A doctor will remove an insignificant portion of the affected lining which will be examined under a microscope to determine if cancer cells are present The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic The procedure can be accomplished through surgery or by inserting a needle guided by the aid of a CT scan Your doctor will consider the results of other tests if the biopsy proves that you have mesothelioma This stage describes the extent of mesothelioma as well as which treatment is the best for you You can learn more about staging by reading the section in this guide titled Staging Treatment There are many treatment options for mesothelioma Some can improve the quality of life and prolong life for a longer period of time than others Patients with mesothelioma need to discuss their goals and determine the most effective treatment plan Surgery is one way to treat mesothelioma Surgery is a method of removing all cancerous tissue during this procedure However when mesothelioma is at an advanced stage its unlikely doctors will be able to completely remove the tumor But surgeons are able to reduce the symptoms The most commonlyused mesothelioma form is found in the lining of the lungs There is a possibility that mesothelioma may develop around the heart in a few cases pericardial msothelioma In rare instances mesothelioma could affect the testicles Mesothelioma is treated by chemotherapy and radiation These treatments are typically administered by mesothelioma specialists at specific centers Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill mesothelioma tumor cells and stop their growth Pemetrexed and cisplatin are standard firstline drug combination for pleural msothelioma Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancerous cells This treatment is often used with other mesothelioma therapies such as chemotherapy and surgery This treatment may also be used for any microscopic mesothelioma left by surgeons after surgery Mesothelioma patients may experience many different side effects as a result of these treatments They may experience nausea fatigue and hair loss A mesothelioma expert can assist a patient choose the right treatment for their specific requirements They can also suggest other ways to help improve a patients quality of life This might include regular pleural drainage for breathing or powerful painkillers Patients should also ensure their medical team is aware of any other medications they are taking such as supplements herbs or prescription drugs This will help to avoid any potentially dangerous interactions between these drugs Prognosis Mesothelioma also called mesothelioma of the pleural region is a cancerous tumor that affects the membrane that line the internal cavities of our bodies such as the chest cavity and abdomen When a person has mesothelioma malignant cells can grow in the tissue which can extend to other areas of the body causing symptoms like pain or difficulty breathing A specialist doctors diagnosis of mesothelioma is vital because it is the first step towards receiving treatment There are a variety of steps to identify mesothelioma including a physical exam as well as lab tests and the biopsy A biopsy is a small sample taken from the mass or tumor to test for mesothelioma A misdiagnosis for mesothelioma may be dangerous as it could delay treatment or make it more difficult to predict the outcome Mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because the symptoms are similar to those of lung cancer pneumonia or bronchitis Because of this mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed as a respiratory condition The prognosis for mesothelioma varies depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma It also depends on factors such as the patients age and general health history The cancer can be controlled by chemotherapy surgery and radiation therapy Palliative treatment can be offered to patients to treat symptoms such as fatigue pain and other signs and symptoms The mesothelioma level of a patient is a reference to how the disease has progressed and how much has already been spread to other parts of the body The doctor will apply his or their best judgment when determining the stage taking into consideration the symptoms and the rate of growth of the cancer The rate of survival for mesothelioma is dependent on the stage and type as well the location of the cancer Patients diagnosed with less wellknown mesothelioma types have a less favorable prognosis Patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma for instance have a better chance of living a longer life because it tends to grow slower in the abdomen than pleural mesothelioma does in the chest In addition patients who have a good tolerance for treatment may be more successful than those with a low tolerance Certain patients with peritoneal msothelioma had good results when they combined chemotherapy surgery and radiation Symptoms When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled they stick to the organs lining and can cause them to form tumors Mesothelioma is most often found in the lung However it can also manifest in the abdomen chest and testicles of males Mesothelioma symptoms generally dont appear until 4050 years after exposure The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma begins with a thorough background of exposure to asbestos Your doctor will perform an examination of your body and review your symptoms A chest Xray could reveal abnormal thickening or fluid in the space that separates the lungs from chest wall A lung CT scan may also be used to identify mesothelioma as well as other cancers in the lungs You can undergo blood tests to assess the health of your liver and kidneys The doctor may also order a chest MRI or an PET scan to look for other mesothelioma and cancers of the chest wall lungs or abdomen If a biopsy is required doctors can remove a portion of the tumor by surgery or by using an instrument that is inserted through the chest wall while under local anesthesia The doctor will then examine the tissue with microscope to determine if it is malignant mesothelioma or another cancer The information from the tests will allow doctors to determine the extent of mesothelioma cancer following a mesothelioma They will assign a staging number for mesothelioma This can be helpful for planning your treatment Theyre not cancerous and they wont recur even if they are surgically removed mesa mesothelioma lawsuit occur in the pleura and in the abdominal lining Mesothelioma of the pericardium is more difficult to treat since it affects the heart It may also recur after surgery Mesothelioma can also spread to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes that are located outside the abdomen and chest The symptoms of mesothelioma resemble those of other less serious illnesses This makes it difficult to recognize This can lead misdiagnosis which could delay your treatment The delay can cause more complications and decrease the chances of survival
